The Big Island of Hawaii is one of our family’s favorite places to explore because it provides many kid-friendly activities. As a Hawaii travel planner and mom raising children here, I’ve curated this list to keep kids and parents happy. Because this is your vacation, too!
The size of this Hawaiian island allows you to spread out and enjoy a less crowded family vacation. (You’ll need to rent a car on the Big Island to explore). From visiting national parks to exploring black sand beaches and local markets, the activities are endless.
Ready to plan your adventure? Here are 27 family-friendly things to do on the Big Island with kids.
Don’t have time to read a bunch of blog posts?
Check out our Busy Mom’s Guide To the Big Island
National Parks and Landmarks
1. Volcanoes National Park (Ka’u)
Most families come to the Big Island to see an active volcano, and Volcanoes National Park makes it possible for any age with stroller-friendly paths and lookout points.
If you have young kids in tow, I recommend exploring the Kīlauea Iki Overlook/Trail and the Thurston Lava Tube. The Devastation Trail is another easy walk that is mainly paved and allows you to see the aftermath of an eruption. If you’re using a stroller, the path from the Volcano House to the sulfur banks is paved and totally doable.
For the best experience, stay overnight at the Volcano House and catch the red glow in the sky. Want to take the hassle out of planning? Check out this kid-friendly volcano stargazing tour.
2. Akaka Falls (Kohala)
A short hike leads to the stunning 422-foot Akaka Falls. It’s one of the most breathtaking waterfalls on the island and an easy 30-minute adventure. This is not a stroller-friendly hike, as there are many stairs to navigate. However, we handled the climb easily with our young toddler in a baby carrier!
3. Rainbow Falls (Hilo)
Located near Hilo, this waterfall is perfect for families with young kids. There’s a large parking lot, and no hiking is required to see Rainbow Falls in Wailuku River State Park. If you get there early enough, you might see the famous rainbows reflecting off the water! You don’t need much time here: 30 minutes-1 hour will suffice.
4. Waipi’o Valley and Pololu Valley Lookouts (Kohala)
Take in jaw-dropping views from two easily accessible lookouts on the Kohala Coast.
Wapi’o Valley was once a heavily populated dwelling and also home to Hawaiian Kings! These days, you’ll find a few dozen inhabitants among the taro (Hawaiian food staple) fields. This is an extremely popular lookout because of its accessibility by car. Hiking down is only permitted to residents (or if you are part of a tour), but the lookout is still worth checking out!
Pololu Valley is a great place to spot humpback whales during winter (Dec-March) and catch an epic sunrise. The lookout is accessible by car, and there is a small lot with limited parking. This valley has a (very steep) trail down to a gorgeous black sand beach unsuitable for swimming.
5. Lava Trees State Park (Puna)
Take a quick 30-minute walk through the remnants of lava-covered trees at Lava Trees State Park. It’s a unique and easy stop, perfect for curious little ones.
Beach Days and Water Adventures
6. Explore Kid-Friendly Beaches
Our family loves exploring kid-friendly beaches on the Big Island. Despite its rugged terrain, the Big Island is known for its white, sandy beaches and many tidepools to keep little ones happy.
7. Coconut Island (Hilo)
Located in Hilo Bay, this small island is accessible from a footbridge and perfect for exploring tide pools, having picnics, and paddleboarding in calm waters.
Coconut Island provides a gorgeous photo opportunity with the best view of downtown Hilo. On a clear day, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanos love to show off in the background.
8. Snorkeling
Kona is famous for its manta ray night snorkel. Only a few places in the world allow you to swim with manta rays, and Kona is one of them! Manta Rays don’t hurt humans and are drawn to the underwater lights that light up plankton, allowing you to get up close and personal with these gentle giants.
If you’re a hard no on snorkeling at night, take a morning snorkel cruise along Kealakekua Bay or pick your preferred time and get up close and personal to sea caves and lava tubes on a snorkel tour to the Captain Cook Monument. Both of these snorkel tours are great with kids!
If guided tours aren’t your thing, rent your own gear and explore the calm waters of Kahalu’u Beach Park, Kikaua Point Park, and Spencer Beach Park.
9. Glass-Bottom Boat Ride (Kona)
If you want to stay dry while exploring the sea, opt for a glass-bottom boat reef tour of Kailua Bay! This is a great way for fearful little ones to see marine life without getting wet.
10. Surf Lessons (Kona)
Kahalu’u Bay is the perfect spot for beginner surfers. Sign up for a family lesson and create unforgettable memories riding waves in Kona with Go Surf Hawaii. They’re fantastic with kids and first-timers!
11. Submarine Ride (Kona)
Explore 100 feet below the ocean with Atlantis Submarine. This is a great experience for anyone who isn’t ready to dive but wants to see marine life up close.
I loved our experience with Atlantis. The staff was super helpful, and I never felt claustrophobic when we were underwater. My six-year-old got a kick out of it, and I loved learning about all the cool things the company is doing with sustainable tourism.
Animal Encounters and Farms
12. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm (Kona)
Hold a live seahorse at the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm! This Hawaii-based aqua farm is working to help save these endangered species, and its tours do a great job of keeping everyone entertained. I really appreciated that they went out of their way to engage with my toddler, who was not old enough to fully participate but allowed to tag along. (Kids must be six or older to hold a seahorse.)
13. Hang Out With Exotic Animals
The Pana’ewa Zoo in Hilo is the only rainforest zoo in the U.S. This free zoo is located just south of Hilo, making it a fun excursion if you are going to Volcanoes National Park from that direction. The zoo isn’t huge, so exploring it in a couple of hours is possible. There’s also a botanical garden and a big, covered playground.
If you’re not into zoos, you may want to visit Three Ring Ranch, an exotic animal sanctuary in Kona. This place is doing incredible things by saving injured animals and giving them a good life. Visits are by appointment only and foster empathy-building through hands-on learning.
14. Coffee Farm Tours (Kona)
Kona is famous for its coffee, and people come to the Kona coffee belt worldwide to try it. Kona coffee is hand-picked from volcanic soil, explaining the hefty price tag in grocery stores. The flavor is rich, and a cup will surely kick any parent in the butt, as it’s also high in caffeine.
While your kids probably aren’t drinking coffee, a farm tour can still be a fun experience. Mountain Thunder offers self-guided tours that don’t eat up your entire day and allow you to explore an easy trail and even some lava tubes on your way to tasting a cup. The small fee includes a tasting and souvenir guidebook.
Outdoor Adventures
15. Horseback Riding (Hamakua Coast)
Enjoy gorgeous views of the Hamakua Coast on a mountain-to-ocean horseback tour. Waipio on Horseback is a great, family-friendly company that makes kids seven and up feel comfortable by engaging with riders and leading small group tours. On a clear day, you can even see the island of Maui in the distance!
16. Zipline Over a Waterfall (Hilo)
If you’ve ever wanted to try zip-lining, this is the place! Hawaii Zipline Tours allows kids ten and up to soar on seven different zip lines that gradually increase in height and length. This is one of the longest ziplines in the US and takes you directly over KoleKole Falls, an epic 250-foot waterfall!
17. ATV Tour (Kona)
Big Island’s rugged landscape is best explored on an ATV tour. It can be hard to find one that’s kid-friendly, so I highly recommend the Polynesian Cultural ATV Tour from Aloha Adventure Farm.
This small group ATV tour is a thrilling adventure that teaches the rich history and heritage of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Hawaii through various fun activities. Kids three and older are allowed to ride along.
18. Visit Local Playgrounds
The best playgrounds on the Big Island are Anuenue Playground (Waimea) and Kamakana Playground in Harold H. Higashihara Park (Kona).
Indoor Fun and Learning
19. Hawaii Keiki Museum (Kona)
This fun nonprofit is perfect for a rainy day and caters to kids ten and under. Conveniently located in Kona, the Hawaii Keiki Museum focuses on hands-on exploration in STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).
20. Imiloa Astronomy Center (Hilo)
This is another fun rainy-day activity to keep in your back pocket, especially if you’re visiting the Hilo side of the island. (Hilo averages 275 days of rainfall a year!) The Imiloa Astronomy Center does great things for kids in the community and provides an awesome way to learn about Hawaiian culture and astronomy. Check out their planetarium!
21. Indoor Rock Climbing
The Big Island has two indoor climbing gyms. Kona Cliffs is the newest on the scene, with 2,500 square feet of space and designated climbing times for kids. Big Island Climbing is a smaller operation with 700 square feet of space and easy walls for kids to navigate (one of the few family-friendly things to do in Downtown Hilo).
Food and Farmers Markets
22. Kid-Friendly Restaurants
Did you even go on vacation if you didn’t eat your way through it? There are many kid-friendly restaurants on the Big Island worth checking out. Some of our favorites are Tex Drive In for the Malasadas, Kona Brewing for lunch, and Lava Lava Beach Club for dinner.
23. Farmers Markets
The Big Island’s spacious landscape means plenty of local farmers’ markets! These are our favorites:
Hilo Farmers Market (Hilo): the biggest and best with the most variety.
Kona Farmers Market (Kona): a popular market with 40+ vendors. This is the best place to buy Kona coffee!
Maku’u Farmers Market (Puna): a massive Sunday market well known for its craft and food vendors. When traveling to Hilo, you may want to detour into the Puna region to check it out.
Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers Market (Puna) This is a full-on Hawaii-style party with music, food, and dancing. It is open only on Wednesday nights, starting at 6 p.m. Kids are free.
Conclusion
The Big Island’s epic land mass and opportunity for adventures ensure your family will not run out of things to do while you’re here. If you’re overwhelmed or short on time, consider hitting up the important stuff on this Big Island in a Day Tour.
Be sure to check out Big Island With Kids: The Ultimate Guide so you know your way around. Happy exploring!
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aloha, I’M FLO
Hawaii travel blogger + itinerary planning extraordinaire
I’m an island-hopping Maui mama of two, here to bring your Hawaii vacation dreams to life.
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